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January 7, 2009

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Profile America — Wednesday, January 7th. A little remembered epic of human endurance ended on this day in 1887 as Thomas Stevens arrived in San Francisco, ending an around-the-world trek — on a bicycle. He left the city by the bay in the spring of 1884, riding a Columbia Standard bicycle — one of those with a huge front wheel and a tiny back wheel and with no brakes. Stevens pedaled 13,500 miles as he crossed the world’s mountains, deserts and jungles. He wrote a classic book about his adventure, “Around the World On a Bicycle,” recently republished, and an incentive for today’s bicyclists. Each year, more than 43 million Americans enjoy riding their bicycles. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Famous First Facts, 7201, p. 544
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1222
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 6, 2009

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Profile America — Tuesday, January 6th. Concern over the price of oil and global warming has renewed interest in the U.S. about cars with diesel engines. About half the cars currently sold in Europe are powered by diesels, quieter and less polluting than Americans are used to. The first trip by a diesel-powered car in the U.S. was completed on this day in 1930, when C.L. Cummins drove a converted Packard sedan from Indianapolis to New York City. He covered just under 800 miles for a total fuel cost of $1.38. Compared to regular gasoline engines, diesels get far more miles per gallon. Each year in the U.S., motor vehicles used 174 billion gallons of fuel — averaging just over 17 miles per gallon. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Famous First Facts, 5474, p. 386
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1070
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 5, 2009

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Profile America — Monday, January 5th. The business world was startled on this date in 1914, when Henry Ford announced that he would pay his workers a minimum wage of $5 a day. The idea eventually gained general acceptance, and in 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law a federally mandated minimum wage of 25 cents an hour. This July, the minimum wage will rise to $7.25. There are nearly 77 million hourly workers in the U.S., earning an average of $16.76 an hour. But various legal exceptions mean some 1.3 million workers are still paid below the minimum wage. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 74
U.S. Department of Labor
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 203
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 4, 2009

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Profile America — Sunday, January 4th. Coming in from the cold and wind that now grip much of the nation, something warm to drink can be very welcome. Many will make themselves a cup of tea helping to celebrate National Hot Tea Month. Not only is tea relaxing, but studies have shown it to help ward off cardiovascular disease. Tea is the only beverage commonly served either hot or iced in any season. While drinking tea has been popular for thousands of years, Americans have made two important contributions — tea bags and iced tea — both in 1904. Recently, the U.S. has led in the development of ready-to-drink forms of tea in bottles and cans. In all its forms, Americans drink an average of nearly 8 gallons of tea each year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 67
Tea Association of the United States
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 203
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 3, 2009

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Profile America — Saturday, January 3rd. After an unaccustomed place in the political spotlight during the recent national elections, Alaska turns its attention today to its 50th anniversary as a state. It had been a territory since being purchased from Russia in a highly controversial move in 1867. A land of superlatives, Alaska is noted for its great expanses of natural beauty and is the vacation destination for many Americans seeking to get away from traffic and pollution. Alaska is almost one-fifth the size of all the lower 48 states. The state’s population, long the smallest in the U.S., is today nearly 670,000, larger than Wyoming, Vermont and North Dakota. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 71
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 12, 13
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 2, 2009

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Profile America — Friday, January 2nd. For centuries, butter was without a rival. But this week in 1871, Henry Bradley of Binghamton, New York, patented oleomargarine. It was during World War II that margarine came into its own because of its durability in long range shipping and storing. For many years, the law required margarine to be sold uncolored. Users had to mash a packet of colored powder into their margarine, and later there was a capsule of color which was broken and kneaded in a plastic bag of the otherwise white spread. Today, butter and margarine — sometimes even blended together — come in a variety of forms. We each consume 4 pounds of margarine and just over 4½ pounds of butter annually. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 440 International Calendar of Events, Jan. 3
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 205
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

January 1, 2009

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Profile America — Thursday, January 1st. This is traditionally a day to kick back and relax — it’s the end of the holiday season and the day-after parties that in some cases became a test of endurance. One of the favorite ways to spend time on New Year’s Day is to watch some of the college football bowl games on television. The granddaddy of these games is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California — always preceded by one of the best parades in the nation. The Orange Bowl is also played today, while the Cotton Bowl and the Sugar Bowl are slated for tomorrow. Across the country, 615 colleges and universities have football teams — and their games draw almost 48 million fans a year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 65, 66, 68, 70
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1217
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

December 31, 2008

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Profile America — Wednesday, December 31st. On this New Year’s Eve, more than 305 million Americans of all ages are ready to greet the year 2009. Fifty years ago, the U.S. population was more than 174 million — a century ago, it was just under 90 million. To show how fast the nation is growing, by this time tomorrow, there will be some 8,000 new babies on hand to welcome the new year. Not only is the population growing, it is moving to new locations. For several years, the fastest growing states have been in the West, and experts predict this trend will continue for several decades. Between now and 2030, the fastest growing states are projected to be Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah. The men and women of the U.S. Census Bureau wish you a happy, safe and prosperous new year.

Sources: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 10
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 14
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

December 30, 2008

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Profile America — Tuesday, December 30th. Before closing the book on this eventful year, it’s worth noting some of the anniversaries of 2008. A hundred years ago, a U.S. entry — the Thomas Flyer — won the New York to Paris, round the world automobile race. Seventy-five years ago, the first minimum wage law was enacted — at 33 cents an hour. Fifty years ago, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established. And 25 years ago, the final episode of “MASH” was broadcast, one of the most popular television series of all time. A century ago, the average life expectancy for a baby girl was 53 years, and for boys, 50. Now those figures are over 80 years for girls and 75 for boys. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2008, Spotlight on the Past
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 55
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 98
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html

December 29, 2008

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Profile America — Monday, December 29th. The old song advises us to “button up your overcoat, when the wind is free....” and, given the many weeks of cold weather ahead, that’s good advice. But if your coat is a getting threadbare, this is a good time to shop for one. Around the country, stores are packed with warm clothing, designed and made for this season, and many people will take advantage of after Christmas sales of new coats, along with hats, scarves and gloves. There are 153,000 clothing stores in the U.S. About 12,000 cater just to children and a similar number to men, while 47,000 specialize in women’s clothing. All together, the nation’s clothing stores ring up $123 billion in sales each year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 2002 Economic Census, NAICS 4481
http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/data/industry/E4481.HTM